Dam and method of constructing the same



Sept 27, 1932- F. A. Nor-:Tzu 1,879,430

' DAM AND METHOD 0F CONSTRUCTING THE SAME Filed June 2, 1951 INV ENTER TREE EN u ETZU ETW HT TDRNEY5 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 SdTES FRED A. NoETzLI, or LosnnenLns coUNTY, CALIFORNIA p DAM AND manon CONSTRUCTINQ THE SAME.

, Animation filed que@ 2f ril'his invention relates to improvements in dams and may be vregarded Ias an improve? nient over the construction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,602,623Qissned October 12, 1926. The invention concerns 'adam or embankment of the earthl till," gravel fill, or rock till type, anda seal Waller core Wall for the dani Which'yvill seal"it` aga-inst leakage. Dams of this tvpe are now being built ofcon'- siderablevheight with there'siilt that when the demis completed a settling action' of the earth or rock'iill is of consideable magnitude; rlhe seal Waller core MWall assiiinesantip-V Waidly and rearwardly" inclined position in the initial construction of thedamlontL during the Settling of the dam, which may befconl siderable in large dams of this` type, these'al Wall or core yvall assumes a slightly* changed position. This involvesI a` shorteningof the height of the seal vvall, cansingfitto Yhave tendency to bnckle, andthisbiicllingactlon Y crack.

lt is an object of this invention to provide improved lseal Wall for filled dams wherein the seal Wall is madelnp of sections defined from' eachother by contraction joints. ,These contraction oints are initially relatively Wide and are filled with a compressible joint tilling material permitting a shortening of the .@:eal Wall during settling Without involving buckling. i y i -another object of the invention is to proida novel seal Wall construction rfor rfilled ns einployinga series oflayers of concrete or concrete slabs. i l" A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method `tor constructing seal 19551,V serial no. einem.

tenete by 'jonas formed of thedesired*"com-` pressi'le material Iand in this *connection still another? object"p off the'V invention is to provide a"`n"1etho iloffornfingthel slabs' in "such a manner thatV theyE together against material lateral Vdisplacent'w, .U t .2.1 e, 2.,

With the foregoing and other objects in View, `which Awill befmade `manifestin the fllowi'ngdetailed""description, fand speciic'ally"pmt'ed" ont' in `the `appended claims, rfe'renceis had to 'the accompanying draw ing 'ior""an` illustrative embodiment o the invention'wherein: 'I Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an earth illedldarnillustrating seal `vvall enrbodyin t'he invehtion'as having been applic Ythereto'. Figi 2is apartia'l view? in' section illn'strat -1 ingdetails of constrnction of the seal Wall; 1 i i z 4 ing` thelinanner inwhich the slabs ofthe seal ivall *are-formed and defined from each other bythe joint-sf I F ig. "4 isa partial view in section illust-ratvvalls of this character defining the sections will be effectively :flocked Y igiB is a partial ivie'vv in section illustrating a slightmodiication of the Amethod illns- 7 trated 'in 'Figure 3: 'f Referring-tothe accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters'designate similar parts throughout, the reference character i which is erected the eart'lrtilh graveliill, or rocl 4till damindicated at 11x12 indicates the diivn rstream' face' of the 'dam and'13 `indicates theup stream face." Thewallein'- vl0 indicates the foundation on jbodyingV the invention is generally designatelby therefe'rence 'character 14." This'seal tvallis preferably but not necessarily formed of a plurality of layers `of concrete; the'lowermo-stlayer being'indicated atl, an inter- "niediatelayer being indicatedV at"16,`and\ an Y A "uppermost layer beingindicated at 17.' "The `lo'vvfe'rmost flayer 15' is divided into sections indicated at.' 18 by'horizontally extending joints 19. `vThese' secti ons "may extend all of Y,

`the .ivay across"the"dam, that is from one abutment' oflthe' dani -'to the other, andthe horizontal jointsk may likewise 'extend con- ,tiniio'usly' across the dam. "However, I pre- 'fer'to divide" the section 18 'byvertically ex- ,n q

tending joints into Separate sections or slabs arranged in horizontal rows. The joints 19, as indicated in a somewhat exaggerated form on Figure 1, are initially quite wide and are filled with a compressible joint filling waterproof material indicated at 20. The materialwhich I prefer to employ is no-w sold on the market under the name of Elastite, or another material which may be used is in the nature of an asphaltum containing a considerable quantity of air blown into it in theV nature of air bubbles. The presence of the air bubbles in the asphaltum renders this material compressible so that if the sections of the lower vlayer 15 are crowded together, the joint filling material 2O may. compress without squeezing this material out of the joint to any excessive extent.

Above the lower layer of concrete 15 there is the second layer which is likewise divided intov sections by horizontal` joints 21 and these sections may likewise be divided'by vertical joints, not shown. The joints 2l preferably have a staggered relation with respect to the joints 19 and where vertical joints are employed these likewise preferably j have a staggered relation. A thin layer of asphaltum or equivalent waterproof -material indicated at 22 is disposed between the two layers 15 and 16 and, as shown on Fig'- ure 1, the top of layer 16 preferably extends higher on the dam than the top of layer 15. Layer 17 is constructed in a similar manner with a layer ofV asphaltum 23 separatingr it fromy layer 16 and this layer is divided into slabs by horizontal and vertical joints which are preferably staggered with respect tothe other joints in the other layers. The horizontal joints in all three layers are initially relatively wide filled with the com pressible Elastite. The sections or slabs of the layers may have on their under :sides horizontally extending ribs 24 which loosely extend into grooves 25 formed in the suhjacent layers. The loose fit causes considerable space vto be present between the rib 24 and the lower side of the groove and this space is filled with the compressible Elastite as indicated at 26.

By this construction if the body of the dam settles, lowering its effective height'and having the tendency to shorten the height of the seal wall, the individual sections or slabs will be urged to crowd together. Instead of buckling bringing about resulting cracks, the compressible joints filling material compresses permitting this crowding action without squeezing the joint filling material out ofthe joints to any excessive extent. Ordinarily by making the contraction joints relatively wide the closing ofthese joints and the compressing of the joint filling material willaccommodate all of the settling whichis apt to take place in the ordin ary fill type dam.

A feature of the invention resides in the method of constructing the slabs of the seal wall. In accomplishing this I preferably employ suitable forms indicated at 27 and 28. These may be sections of heavy tarrcd paper, or the like, which are bent anoularl y in form and positioned on the aspnaltum layer 22 or 23 as the case may be, or against the forward face of the fill. Between these forms is positioned the the joint filling material is so positioned a cement gun deposits Gunite, a mixture of Porti nd cement, aggregate, water.l ete., on both sides of the forms 27 and 28. rihe forms 27 and 28 thus keep the joint fillin material in place and serve to define the edges of the slabs. In some instances where a relativelyY tl^`n slabe is used the use of forms may be dispensed with and where the seal wall is of a. single layer the joint filling material may be held temporarily in place against the forward side of the fill by wires embedded in the joint filling material and inserted into the fill. Any equivalent anchoring devices for temporarily anchoring the joint filling material while the concrete is being poured or deposited by a cement gun may be used. In Figure 4rthe upwardly extending portions of the forms are given a curvature indicated at 29 so that when the slabs are formed one slab will present a convex edge and the adjacent slab will present a concave edge, with a relatively wide joint between them filled withElastite. In this manner crowdinfrof the slabs together is permissible At the same time the slabs are effectively locked together against material relative displacements.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that a novel, advantageous seal wall construction for fill type dams is provided which makes provision for the settling of the fill or body of the dam. This provision is highly important in large dams where the magnitude of the settling is considerable.

In general the joints herein referred to being relatively wide should be so designed as to permit a contraction of each joint of between one-eighth of an'inch and one inch although in some instances the contraction may exceed this. It will likewise be appreciated that in low dams the contraction of the joints may be only a very slight amount where the total magnitude of the settling is relativelj,7 small. It will likewise be appreci ated that although I have illustrated the seal wall as having been made of three layers, one layer may suffice certain circumstances, and two layers may suffice in others. Likewise there may be special conditions in which more than three layers are desirable.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from Elastite and when the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims,

I claim: a

l. In a filled dam, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined wall formed of slabs, there being relativelywide joints between the slabs which space the slabs from those below and those above, and a compressible waterproof material filling the joints enabling the slabs tlc be crowdedtogether during settling of the c am.

2. In a filled dam, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined seal wall, said seal wall being divided by relatively wide horizontally extending joints, and a vcompressible oint lilling material in the joints enabling thesections of the seal wall to crowd together during settling of the dam.

In a filled dam, an upwardly rearwardly extending seal wall, said wall being formed of a plurality of layers of concrete, waterproofing material between the layers, said layers being divided into sections arranged one above the other by relatively wide horizontally extending joints, and a relatively plastic material in the oints.

el. In a filled dam, an upwardly and rearwardly extending seal wall, said wall being formed of a plurality of layers of' concrete, waterproofing material between the layers, said layers being divided into sections arranged one above the other by relatively wide horizontally extending joints, and a relatively plastic material in the joints, the joints of the layers being staggered with respect to each other.

5. In a filled dam, an upwardly and rearwardly extending seal wall, said wall being formed of a plurality of layers of concrete, waterproofing material between the layers, said layers being divided into sections arranged one above the other by relatively wide horizontally extending joints, and a relatively plastic material in the joints, the edges of the sections being interlocked to prevent material lateral displacements of the sections relatively to each other.

6. In a filled dam, a seal wall formed of a plurality of layers of concrete, said layers being divided by horizontally extending joints into sections, the joints of the layers being staggered with respect to each other, there being loose fitting rib and groove connections between the sections of the layers, and a relatively plastic compressible material between the ribs and grooves and in the joints between adjacent sections.

7. In a dam of the filled type, a seal wall made up of a plurality of sections of concrete,

l' means temporarily holding the sections spaced from those below and those above, said means permitting the sections to be moved slightly closer to each other enabling the. sections to be crowded downwardly together during settling of the dam.

sections of the second layer of concrete made up of section'st'l separated by the forms and oint filling inaterial. j Y' f 9. The method of making a seal wall in a filled dam which includes positioning a plastic joint filling material at the location of the future joints and simultaneously depositing concrete against both sides of said joint filling material, thus providing sectionsof the concrete which maybe crowded downwardly together during the settling of the darn.

l0. In adam of the iilled type, a seal Wall formed of a plurality of superposed layersof concrete, at least one of said layers being vided by relatively wide joints into sections Wlliell are Spaeed 011e abete ,the ether, tht relatively wide joints permitting the sections to more Closely erpredell'eeeh ether dering settling ofthe fill.

1l. In a dam of the filled type, a seal wall formed of a plurality of superposed layers of concrete, at least one of said layers being divided by relatively wide joints into sections which are spaced one above the other, the relatively Wide jointe permitting the eeetiene to more closely approach each other during settling of the fill, ,each superposed layer extending further up the face of the than its subjacent laye l2. In a filled dani, a seal wall lfonmed of a plurality et layers el eenerete, seid leyere being divided by ,relatively vde horizontally extending joints into sections, the joints in the layers being staggered with respect to Veach other, there being loose fitting ,rib and groove connections between the sec-tions 0l the layers preventing material relative displacement of upper sections relatively to the lower sections, 4the wide joints permitting the layers `:to more closely approach each other duringsettling of the lill.

13. The Amethod of makingan inclined seal wall in a filled dam which Ecomprises positioning joint filling material on the dam Iat the location of future joints, and spraying concrete onto the dam on both sides of the joint filling material, thus forming slabs defined by the joint lilling material.

14. The method of making an inclined seal .wall in a filled dam which comprises positioning ointiiilling materialonthe dam at the location of future joints, and spraying concrete `onto the dam on both sides of the joint filling material, thus forming slabs defined bythe joint filling materia j, positioning joint filling material on theslabsso Vformed atthe on the upstream tace of the fill, and depositing concrete on the upstream tace oi' the fill on both sides oi the joint defining niaterial thus forming slabs defined and separated by the joint defining material capable of being crowded together without buckling ordestruction as the ll settles.

7 V16. The method of Aconstructing a dam which consists oi erecting a wall of settleable fill, positioning joint defining niaterial on the upstream ace of the fill, and depositing concrete lon theupstream ace of the fill on both sides oi the joint delining Vmaterial thus forming slabs defined and separated by the joint deiining material capable of being crowded together without buckling or ldestruction as the iill settles, positioning joint defining material on the slabs rearwardly inclined seal wall, said wall comprising a plurality of superposed Alayers of concrete divided into sections by relatively wide and substantially horizontally extending joints, and means interposed between two f' of said superposed layers tending to hold them together against vmaterial relative displacement.

22. The method of constructing a dam which consists of erecting a wall of settlei In testimony whereof I have signed my 'frname to this speciiication.

FRED A. NOETZLI.

thus formed and depositing conc-rete on bot-h y sides of this joint detining material thus forming a superposed layer of slabs delined and separated by the joint filling material which are likewise capable of crowding without buckling as the fill settles.

17. In a filled dam, a seal wall adjacent the upstream face of the dam, said seal wall being divided into slabs by relatively wide horizontally extending joints which permit crowding of the slabs downwardly as the fill settles, and means rendering said joints waterproof.

18. In a filled dam, a seal wall adjacent the upstream face of the dam, said wall being formed of a plurality of superposed layers, at least some of the layers being divided into slabs by relatively wide top and bottom joints which permit crowding of the slabs together as the fill settles.

19. In a filled dam, a seal wall adjacent the upstream face of the dam, said wall being formed oi a plurality of superposed layers, at least some of the layers being divided vinto slabs by horizontal and vertical joints, the horizontal joints being relatively wide to permit downward crowding of the slabs as the lill settles, and means rendering the joints water proof.

20. A filled dam having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined seal wall, said wall coniprising a plurality of superposed layers of concrete, a plurality of the layers being divided iiito sections by relatively wide substantially horizontally extending oints, said joints being staggered and enabling the sec- `tions to move relatively to each other and relatively to adjacent layers as the lill settles. 21. A lilleddam having an upwardly and fia 

